It’s the People that Make the Place / Alix Rios
Alix Rios joined GFF Interiors in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University…
[MARIA GOMEZ]
Taking the Stage!
Construction at SMU’s Cox School of Business is Underway
Our work at Cox began with a detailed benchmarking, programming and feasibility study on improvements to the burgeoning…
40 Years / 40 Facts
40 NUMBERS TO CELEBRATE THE 40TH YEAR OF OUR FIRM – GFF was founded in 1982 with the goal of delivering both exceptional design and exceptional service to our clients. Forty years later, the vision is still the same. Thousands of projects, hundreds of design awards, dozens of firm awards, and four decades haven’t changed our approach.
It’s the People that Make the Place / Brian Kuper
Joining GFF in 1993, and a Principal in the firm since 2007, Brian has practiced architecture for nearly…
The Trevor Project
GFF is proud to partner with The Trevor Project to make sure that every LGBTQ young person can live their story of pride fearlessly and authentically.
Portrait of a GFFer: Zack Sprinkle-Lewis
Meet Zack Sprinkle-Lewis. Zack graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, and a…
Did you know that May is Historic Preservation Month?
Historic Preservation Month - Church Works + Historic Preservation Did you know that May is Historic Preservation Month?…
It’s the People that Make the Place / Jon Rollins
Jon Rollins is a leader in GFF’s institutional practice, focusing on university projects, independent schools, cultural facilities and…
Can We Go Beyond Sustainability?
“So deep is the environmental crisis; so urgent is the demand for change, that architecture must become not…
Hear from our Designers – What’s new in Church Seating?
Furniture for church facilities has shifted in recent years. Here are the trends we are excited about! 1 …
Need a New Church Facility? Consider Purchasing an Existing Building
When a church has outgrown its existing property or is starting a new campus, one of the first…
It’s the People that Make the Place / Jim West
Jim West is a 1996 graduate of The University of Kansas where he received his Bachelor of Architecture.…
Stephen Pickard Elected to the AIA College of Fellows
Stephen is a Principal at GFF and has over 38 years of architectural design and management experience. The…
A Destination Workplace Comes To Life
WEIR'S PLAZA, ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE STORIES IN THE HISTORY OF DALLAS' KNOX DISTRICT,…
Black History Month: Four Leaders that Empower Us to Make a Difference at GFF
To celebrate Black History Month, four GFFers talk about the inspiration that they draw from four black leaders.
New Year, New Space
The Merriam-Webster definition of renovate is “to restore to a former better state” or “to restore to life,…
And that’s a Wrap! – Austin Creek Show 2021
GFF Austin had the honor of taking part in Creek Show 2021. Creek Show, put on by Waterloo…
It’s the People that Make the Place / Maria Gomez
Maria Gomez, AIA, LEED AP is a Principal at GFF and functions as our Cultural, Office and Build-to-Suit…
Celebrating a City Prolific Shaper
GFF Cofounder Larry Good will be honored by AIA Dallas at the Impact Dallas Gala on November 4th. The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor given by the organization.
¡Tomando el Escenario! Taking the Stage!
A pure and simple architectural form houses a black box theater. Una forma arquitectónica simple y pura alberga el…
It’s the People that Make the Place
GFF has received three awards in 2021 for its service, leadership, and workplace culture and we can’t pass on an opportunity to celebrate the people that have made it possible.
Portrait of a GFFer: Marisa Dominguez
Meet Marisa Dominguez, an 11th generation San Antonian! Marisa graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s in…
How is ESG Impacting Real Estate Capital Investment?
There’s an acronym that has been around for a while now which is getting more attention as we…
Dallas Morning News – Lake Highlands rental community kicks off construction in Northeast Dallas
“Developers have broken ground on the next phase of the Lake Highlands Town Center in northeast Dallas. The 70-acre mixed-use development is at Walnut Hill Lane and Skillman Street and has been under construction for more than a decade. Developers have already built two apartment communities, a shopping center and townhomes in the project, which is served by a DART commuter rail station. Now, Austin-based builder OHT Partners has started construction on a 403-unit rental community at the northeast corner of Skillman. Called Lenox Lake Highlands, the apartments are scheduled to open next summer.”
Greetings From Austin
It’s time to tell you about all the great things happening deep in the heart of Texas. Our Austin office has grown since we first opened our doors in 2018. We started with four pioneers and have flourished into a bustling office with 13 fantastic designers. These last three years have flown – we cannot hide how exhilarating it has been to establish a practice in one of America’s greatest cities.
Portrait of a GFFer: Jake Chavez
Among our Austinites are several musically gifted individuals, not least of which is Jake Chavez. Meet Jake, a…
Portait of a GFFer: Sydney Galloso
GFFers has more than one superhero but today we want to tell you about one who works in…
Organizing Principles of Design – Evolution of a Growing Church Community
This Texas church was able to create a more attractive campus with GFF Architects to design a project…
GFF Church Works: Under Construction
Many new GFF Church Works projects are under construction! Life Fellowship Church in McKinney held a groundbreaking ceremony…
Faculty Offices: A Space Allocation Dilemma
It may not be luxurious or even fully private, but just about every full-time college faculty member has…
GFF Women’s History Month
GFF’s culture of creating memorable places is driven by the talent and hard work of our entire staff. …
Glass Technology that Can Bring Value to Your Building
Developers typically find that one of the most expensive components of a ground up construction is the glazing systems. Natural light gives life to a building. Without it there’s no life and no demand for space. Insulated glazing was invented in 1865, and the technology slowly started to make its way into commercial development in the 1930’s, becoming commonly available in the 50’s. Glass has a major impact on the experiential quality of a space and is often a primary component of the overall design concept. Glass technology has shaped and repeatedly redefined architecture, and its most recent evolution offers a broad spectrum of options.
Learning and Learning Space
For the last twenty-five years, one of my primary areas of focus both in practice and in research…
Church Design: SoupMobile Church Food Pantry Gets a Home
Missions-minded architects and contractors help design and build a new worship space and food pantry for the homeless…
Locally Sourced Kindness
We have asked our employees which organizations they supported this year and would like to encourage our readers to support them too! In a year when we have often felt powerless to change things around us, we’ve found strength in the work that these organizations are doing (and have been doing for a long time) to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in our communities.
GFF 2021 Promotions
At GFF we are all excited to welcome the start of this New Year (good riddance 2020!) and…
GFF Church Works Design Maxims
As we reach the end of the year, GFF has defined a set of principles that we believe…
GFF CAN(e): A Design Competition for a New Animal Shelter
Ultimately, this building will provide a safe and healthy environment for animals on their journey to finding their…
Next Generation Student Spaces
In recent years there has been a growing trend among churches to place extra emphasis on well-designed, impactful…
Portrait of a GFFer: Faiza Tayyab
Meet Faiza Tayyab. Faiza graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Professional Bachelor of Architecture…
Catching Up with Alix Rios
Alix Rios has returned to lead GFF Interiors. We had a few things to ask her.
CANstruction 2020
While it was an unCANventional summer, our interns were able to still participate in a work from home program – GFFCAN.
Post-Pandemic Landscapes
As a lasting result of the ‘Shelter-In-Place’ orders, our greenspaces may possess increasingly vital roles in our daily lives. As outdoor spaces continue to fill expanded roles, they also may adapt and change.
Renovation and Historic Preservation for Education
One of the most common triggers for planning and design projects in K-20 education is that existing campus…
Decoding the Effects of COVID-19
A few weeks ago, we asked our clients, consultants, contractors, and friends of the firm to share their experiences during the current pandemic. We are excited to share our findings and some of the excerpts from our generous survey volunteers.
An Atrium of Light
Perhaps most important, this project put us on a path to dream even bigger about how our physical…
D Magazine – Details, Renderings Unveiled For Uptown High-Rise Redevelopment
“The tower will have floor-to-ceiling glass with planes to extend past the floor slabs at each end. The two retail buildings will be positioned on either side of the office tower with one building designed for several fast-casual restaurants and the other building planned for one upscale eatery. An activated park in the middle of the site will include a variety of seating and pedestrian-friendly pathways to enhance walkability and connection with the surrounding community.”
Dallas Morning News – Striking new Uptown Dallas tower will include restaurants and park space
“Designed by Dallas architect GFF, the 623,624-square-foot office tower is one of the largest new buildings on the way in Dallas’ booming Uptown district. Developer Granite Properties has been working on the development for almost two years and is pushing ahead with final details and a hunt for business tenants. The high-rise in the works will take almost three years to complete.”
Church Design Post COVID-19
GFF Church Works is honored to have our recent COVID-19 discussion on the church re-entry process featured in…
Portrait of a GFFer: Max Nochez
Meet Max Nochez. Max graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Bachelor of Science in…
Post-Pandemic Retail
COVID-19 has dramatically affected how we shop, dine, and are entertained. Retailers, restauranteurs, and theater operators are beginning to reopen in limited capacities and think about what the nature of these functions looks like in the future.
Post-Pandemic Housing
Being mindful of potential cost and spatial implications, these ideas outline and suggest realistic measures which may be taken to, logically but resourcefully, re-shape multifamily communities.
K-12 Schools and the Response to COVID-19
The end of May is usually a time to celebrate the accomplishments of the school year just completed…
Jam With GFF
From time to time, we like to share the music we listen to with our coworkers. New albums and new artists are currency for conversations about creative accomplishment and serve as the mood-shifting push that we need to find our own ideas. Temporarily locked in doors due to COVID-19, we find ourselves listening to music more than we’re used to during a workday. Kitchen tables and home offices have become our new workstations and music is providing the right environmental mask to transform our homes into proper work spaces.
Expansion and Renovation Renew 1960s Dallas Church
After working with GFF Architects on various projects elsewhere on the campus over the previous quarter century, Good Shepherd turned to the firm once again in 2016 to expand the seating capacity of the sanctuary, enhance the sanctuary lighting, replace the sanctuary flooring, add an accessible restroom and a covered porte-cochere drop-off.
Should We Be Specifying Antimicrobials?
Research has shown that while antimicrobials do have some positive attributes, such as their ability to be used…
Portrait of a GFFer: Bryana Cozart
Meet Bryana Cozart. Bryana was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Kansas State University…
Today’s Students Are Different – Is Your Housing?
THIS ARTICLE APPEARS IN THE MARCH/APRIL 2020 EDITION OF STUDENT HOUSING BUSINESS Student housing changes with each generation;…
Portrait of a GFFer: Ryan Bahlman
Meet Ryan Bahlman. Ryan is a west Texas native from San Angelo. He graduated from Texas Tech with…
Emily Mendez’s Home Office and Classroom Space
written by Emily Mendez The process of working from home has been generally smooth. A few “user error”…
Creating Memorable (Shelter-In-)Places
Since transitioning to a fully remote workforce on March 24, GFF has remained committed to providing the high creativity and productivity levels that our clients and consultants rely on. We are proud of the dedication that our GFF team has shown during these challenging times and we couldn’t have done it without each and every employee’s commitment and cooperation. GFF continues to Create Memorable Places from our home work spaces and for that, we are incredibly grateful to our IT team.
VantagePoint Church Under Construction
GFF created a new building design for VantagePoint Church on approximately 10.4 acres located at 8500 Archibald Avenue…
Productive Struggle, or Why Architecture School is a Model for Education in General
One of the most influential trends in pedagogy today, especially in the world of K-12 education, is Project-Based…
Retail Space Reimagined
When selecting a site for a new facility, churches are more frequently considering former retail locations as an…
Footprints & New Paths
Effective January 2020, GFF co-founder Duncan T. Fulton, FAIA, LEED AP will step down as Chairman/CEO, and will be retiring from the firm entirely in March, with the time in between spent helping ensure a smooth transition on projects for which he is responsible. Evan Beattie, AIA, LEED AP will assume the role of Chairman/CEO.
Why We do What We Do: The Design of Learning Space
Learning is shaped, for better or worse, by the environment where it takes place. Current research on cognitive…
GFF Church Works Grand Openings
The GFF Church Works Studio is excited to share our most recently completed projects! First Baptist Church in…
Our Future is Bright.
Hello 2020! Our Future is Bright. Announcing GFF Promotions for 2020 GFF is thrilled to kickoff 2020 by…
Pacific Plaza Field Trip
written by Gavin Newman Sometimes research can be fun. After several days of unseasonably cold weather, GFF’s Planning…
GFF Bark + Build 2019
GFF has had the wonderful opportunity to participate in Bark + Build for the past several years which…
Reducing Building Operating Cost Through Good Design
Chase Oaks Church - Plano, Texas Churches face a significant challenge in accomplishing as much as possible with…
GFF Halloween 2019
GFF celebrated Halloween with our annual pumpkin painting and costume contest! Shout out to this year’s winners: Costumes:…
GFF Church Works Recent Awards
The GFF Church Works Studio was recently awarded a “2019 Worship Facilities Solomon Award for Church Design – Youth…
‘On My Own Time’ Gallery 2019
This summer, GFF took part in our eighth year of On My Own Time. By working closely with…
The Impact of Classroom Technology on Student/Teacher Communication
Winston Churchill famously said, “we shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” This is especially true in schools…
Join Us at PARK(ing) Day Fort Worth 2019!
The GFF Fort Worth Team will be hanging ten at this year’s PARK(ing) Day. Come stop by and…
Portrait of a GFFer: Taylor Hanttula
Meet Taylor Hanttula. Taylor is a Frisco native and graduate of Texas Tech University with a Master of…
Church Works Summer Volunteer Projects
Members of the GFF Church Works studio recently led an architecture elective class at Wesley-Rankin Community Center as…
GFF Receives The Texas Society of Architects 2019 Architecture Firm Award
GFF is pleased to announce that we have been selected as the recipient of The Texas Society of…
Portrait of a GFFer: Colleen Christian Goff
Meet Colleen Christian Goff. Colleen attended Harding University and lived in Nashville, Tennessee before moving to Texas last…
Buckner Family Hope Center Beam Signing Ceremony
Construction is in full swing on the Buckner International’s new Family Hope Center in the Bachman Lake area.…
Making the Most of Makerspace
St. Mark's School of Texas Makerspace Psychologists and educators from Jean Piaget to Howard Gardner to Maria Montessori…
Portrait of a GFFer: Perry Weber
Meet Perry Weber. Perry is a Chicago native and graduate from the University of Kansas. He joined GFF…
GFF Austin Celebrates One Year Anniversary
GFF is celebrating our one-year anniversary in Austin with a growing team and an impressive mix of design…
Portrait of a GFFer: Dean Hageman
Meet Dean Hageman. Dean is an Associate in the Austin office, but started his career at GFF in…
Portrait of a GFFer: Maxine Kraft
Meet Maxine Kraft. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Maxine joined the Austin office in…
Portrait of a GFFer: Zach McLain
Meet Zach McLain. Zach received his Bachelor of Architecture from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!) and joined the…
Sticky Space: The Glue that Holds Your Academic Building Together
Up to 66% of learning for today’s college students takes place outside the classroom, according to a recent…
Portrait of a GFFer: Anna Eliese Scott
Meet Anna Eliese Scott. Anna Eliese is a graduate of The University of Wisconsin-Madison and joined the GFF…
St. Andrew UMC Campus Improvements
St. Andrew United Methodist Church, located in Plano, TX, contacted GFF in 2016 to develop a Master Plan…
GFF Participates in STEAM’s ‘Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden Girl Powered Weekend’
This past weekend, GFFers gathered at the Dallas Arboretum for STEAM’s ‘Girl Powered Weekend’ event. The Rory Meyers…
Portrait of a GFFer: Scott Williams
Meet Scott Williams. Scott received his Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University (Cyclones, not Hawkeyes). He is…
Reducing Annual Operating Costs Through Good Design
Lucas Christian Academy Capital projects on school campuses face a significant challenge in accomplishing as much as possible…
Is a Flexible Classroom Right for You?
In last month’s post my colleague Jon Rollins discussed some of the considerations at the intersection of space…
Quality vs. Quantity in Campus Space Planning
One of the most common client comments we hear in our campus planning practice is “there’s not enough…
GFF Announces 2019 Promotions
GFF is excited to begin 2019 with the announcement and acknowledgement of our recent promotions. The group consists…
St. Mark’s School of Texas Winn Science Center Dedication Ceremony
St. Mark’s School of Texas celebrates the dedication of the new 56,000 square foot Winn Science Center. The…
GFF Church Works Holiday Recipe Collection
GFF Churchworks Studio wishes everyone a safe and merry holiday season, and would like to share some of…
Portrait of a GFFer: Drake Johnson
Meet Drake Johnson. Drake is an Oklahoma native, where he received his Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from Oklahoma…